Dirigible spotlight



May s, 1924. 1,492,682

H.C.FO$TER DIRIGIBLE SFOTLIGHT Filed Jan. 26. 1923 y INVENTOR.

/fH/Mr CI Fos rae A TTORNE YS.

Patented May 6, 1924.

UNITED E*sTaTes PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY C. FOSTER. OF CONNEBSVILLE, INDIANA, ASSIGNUB T0 INDIANA LAMP COM- PANY, 0F CONNERSVILLE, INDIANA, A CORPORATION.

f umanita sro'ruon'r.

appncauon ne January' as, ma. sei-m in. slam.

To all trimm it may concern.

Be it known that I, HARRY C. FOSTER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Connersvillc, county of Fayette, and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Dirigible Spotlights; and I do hereby declaie that the following is a full, clear. and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which like num'erals refer to like parts.

This invention relates to a dirigible spot-` light applicable to either open or closed ve that type of spot-.

hicles, and particularl light which extends t rough the body of the vehicle so that the light is on the outside and the operating handle onl the in side thereof.

The particular object of the invention isto provide a universal ball and socket mounting and associated mechanism for adj ustably supporting aspotlight and permitting its dirigible movement or adjustment through a minimum opening in the windshield, bracket or other sup rting member.

One feature of the invention resides in the provision of a fixed su porting ball or sphere adapted to be rigi ly clamped upon the body member or bracket through which there may extend a lamp-supportin spindle or tube movably mounted by two c mping members positioned on each side of the ball or sphere. The advantage of this'eoustruction lies in the fact that the vspindle or tube, u on the end of-which the lamp is mounte may have the greatest latitude of movement through an aperture in the vehiclesupporting member of minimum diameter.

In event tlrewind sheldof the vehicle is the sup orting .member thereof, itis ve desira le that the aperture made therein be of the smallest possible diameter since it is a v,diicult matter tobore a` large hole through the glass, and the glass is weakened thereby. This construction permits of a relatively small aperture-,.zfbeing used and still enables the lamp to'be given a'n appreciably lame latitude of adjustment.

notlier feature of the invention resides in the clamping means for frictionally maintaining the lamp in adjust-ed position, both under spring tension and manually.

Other features of the invention will be hereinafter more specifically set forth and described pertaining more particularly to the rugged and durable construction.

The ull nature of the invention will be understood ,from the accompanying drawings and the A following description and clatims:

. n the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the front or glass portion of a vehicle showin the spotlight mounted in the wind shield t iereof. Fig". 2 is a central ver-` tical cross section through the lamp support mounted on the wind shield. Fi 3 is a plan view looking down on the amp, showing the wind shield iu cross section.

In the drawings there is shown a vehicle 10 having awind shieldglass 11 through which a lam is adapted to be mounted. The wind shield is provided with a small annular opening out therethrough so as to receive the neck 12 of a hemispherical supporting memkber 13. I The neck 12 is .externally screw threaded, whereby the oppositely mounted hemispherical su porting member 14 may bel screwed. It wi l be observed that the members 13 and 14 may be screwed together on `each side of the' wind shield 11 so as to be rigidly secured thereon and clamp in fixed osition. Said'members 13 and 14 are so ormed as to allow for the intermediate space taken up by the thickness of the wind shield, whereby when clamped in the position shown in Fig. 2, they will form a sphere, the center of which lies in the center of the hole through the wind shield.

Said members 13 and 14 have` cut-away portions or openings 15 diametrcally opposed and equldistant from the glass en agmg surfaces thereof, through which tiere may extend a lamp-Su porting spindle or tube I16. Said Ttube a so extends through the4 neck 12. The end of the supporting tube 16 extending through the sp eres to 'the outside or in front of the wind shield `said socket 19 by a band 21. Positioned in the socket. -19 there is the usual yielding contactmember 22 supported by the insulating plug 23. Positioned between the-connectng elbow 17 and the hemisphercal plate positioned in frictional engagement with the outer surface of said member l1 and of the samer relative size and radius as the oppositely-mounted plate 24.- Said plate 25 likewise has an opening of oni)7 litsullicient diameter tino permit the passage of the tube 16 therethrough, as shown in Fig. 2. On the opposite end of the tulle 16 from the casing 20 there is provided a socket 26 in which an insulating plug 2 is mounted through which a contact pin 28 extends. The opposite end of the. socket 26 has rotatably mounted therein a switch socket 29 having a spring-pressed contact point 30 in position to engage and make contact with the point 28When turned to lighting position and to brake the contact therewith when turned to ofi1 position by means of the operating levers 31 which are secu red to said p ug 29. The spring-pressed contact mem er 32 is carried by the plug 29 in position to make and break contact with the contact 33, which is grounded with the metal tube. Rigidly supported on the socket 26 there is an annular handle or grasping member 3l for actuating or adjusting the position of the lamp 2(Lt,hrough the pivotal movement of'the tube 1B; Said handle 34 is hollow and contains the switch member 31 which may be moved through the slot 35 therein and the terminals 36 to (vhich an electric cable 37 may be attached. said cable extending through the insulated openingr 38 therein,

Surrounding the socket 26 there is a collar 39, which is located rigidl1 thereon by a suitable screti' and vwhich is externall)V threaded. Mounted on said collar so as to screw back and forth thereon there is prt vided a tightening nut l() which knurle'l on its peripheuiY so it may be gripped and screwed into tightening or looseningY position. Between the nut 11) and thc plate 25, there is a sleeve l1 which is provided at one 4e'nd with a recessed portion adapted to fit.

snugly against the plate the other end thereof being in engagement with the nut 40. Mounted within #aid sleeve and between the recess end and the collar 3H. there is a tension sprinpr 12. which exerts a constant pressure against said recessed end of the sleeve 4l. forcing the same frictionallv against the plate 25.V

It will be observed that since the pressure of the spring 42 is exerted between the plate 25 and the collar 39, which isin direct connection through the tube 16 with the connecting member 17.` it will exert a similar pressure on the friction plate 24. Bv reason of the tension in the springr 42, the fric tion plates il and '2:3 vvill he in frictional engagement ivith the surface of the hernispherieal meu'ibers 13 and l? so thu said plates Will be frictionally held in adjusted position thereon. said position beingchanged b v the annular movement of the handle 34 which will cause a like movement of the lamp casing :20. The tension of the spring 4Q ma)v be increased or decreased by the positioningY of the coller: 39 on the socket 26, and the sleeve 41 ma)v be caused to force the plates 21 and 25 into rigid clamping position about the members 13 and 14 by manuallvv gripping and tightening the nut 40 about said collar.

In operation, the light may be turned on and ntf by the movement of the switch lever 31 and the lamp may be. adjusted so as to direct its rays in any desired direction Within the limits'of movement of the tube 16 by movingr the handle 34. The spring 42 may be adjusted iu tension so as to normally hold the lamp in adjusted position. and in the event it is desired to rigidlyy clamp the lamp in an)- tgiven position, the nut-f1() may be turned slightly by the Fingers. -Ater the casing :'20 has been positioned, further adjustment thereof may be had by rotating the handle 34. which in turn will rotate the tube 1G and the eonnectingrr elbow 17. AS xvill be observed in Fig. 2. the elbow 17 extends at a slight angle so that the rotation thereof will move the lamp 20 about a oirele, the axis of which extends through ,the tube 1G. This permits of a finer adjustment of the direction of the beam `of -light projected from the lamp after the more general positioningY of the lampV has been had by the. pivotal movement of the tube 16. It ma)1 he further noted that the lamp casing QU will at all times remain in a4 plane through the tube 1G and handle 931i` and will move about the axis therethrough.

While this invention has. been shown and described as applied to the wind shield of a vehicle, it will he obvious that` it may' likevvise be applied to the top or frame of the vehicle or en v other portion of the body of the vehicle or may be suiliported upon 'a bracket'for use in connection with an open vehicle. and various types of clamping plates or rings may' be used in connection with the various types of supporting spherical members.

The invention claimed is:

1. A. dirigible lamp comprising a rigidly mounted ball support. clamping sockets movabli supported therebv and engaging and clamping opposite sides of said ball, and a lamp-supporting member extending through said ball support and supported on said sof-kers for obtaining universal adjustment thereof with respect to said ball sltlpori. i y

2. ilirigihle lamp comprising a rigidlynmnnted hail support, clamping sockets sockets. and means on said lamp support for forcingr said clamping sockets and all support in frictions! engagement for frictionally holding said lamp in adjusted position.

ii. dirigibie lamp comprising a rigidly i mounted bali support, clamping sockets morality supported thereby and engaging and damping: opposite sides of said ball, a lamp supporting member extendin through said hall support and support on Said sockets. and a springr for yieldingly forcing said hail and clamping so'kets into fric tions! engagement for holding said lamp in adjusted position.

4. .i dirigible lump comprising a rigidlymoumed ball support damping sockets niovaiiljs supported thereby and engaging and dumping opposite sides of said ball. a lmnp-support ing member extendingr through said hull support and supported on said seekers. and manually operated member for terribly clamping said ball and clamp in;F or-kots together'for maintainin; r said lamp in fixed position.

5i i dirigible lamp comprising a rigidlymounted ball support, clamping sockets movnbiy supported thereby and engaging und damping opposite sides of said ball. a. hunpsnpporting member extending through said bail support and supported on said sockets. a sleeve mounted on said lamp-sur porting member in engagement with one of said sockets. and a spring contained in said slur-w for vieidingrllv exertingr a force on said sieew in one direetion. and exerting an pposiiely-directed force on the other so foirietionaiiy damping said sockets einst sani supporting ball.

(l. fx dirighle lump comprising' a rigidlymounteei hall support. clamping sockets movnbly supported thereby and engaging :md elfnnpimr opigiosite sides of said ball. a lamp supporting member extendinuthrongh said bali support and supported on said sockets` a sieove mounted on said vlampslpporting member in engagement with one of Laid sockets. a Spring! contained in said @were For rielilingly exerting a fori-e on said Heere. :und un oppositelv-directed force on tinl aber soeket For rictioually clamping said swims against said supportingr ball,

' and means for manually;r exerting the force exerted bjr said spring.

T, rlhe vombinatlon with a mounting for a potlight having an opening therein, of a "i nporting ball formed in two sections adapted to be secured together on each side of said mounting and rigidly clamped there on by means of a collar of reduced diameter extending through said opening, a longitudiwilly-extending lamp-supporting member adapted to extend through said ball and collar, and a pair of engaging sockets adapted to frictionally engage the opposite sur aces of said ball on each side of the mounting therefor for supportinY said lampsupporting member in adjuste position.

8. The combination with a mounting for a spotlight having an opening therein, of a supporting ball formed in two sections adapted to be secured together on each side of said mounting and rigidly clamped thereon vby means of a collar of reduced diameter extending through said opening, a longitudinaliy-extending lamp-supporting member adapted to extend through said ball and collar, a pair of engaging sockets ada ted i to frictionally engage the opposite sur aces of said ball on each side of the mounting therefor for supporting said lamp-supporting member in adjusted position, and means on said lamp-supporting member for yield'- ingiy maintaining said sockets in frictional engagement with said ball.

9. A mounting for adjustabiy supporting a lam upon an apertured support. including a hol ow stationary ball split into two sections and coaxially mounted with respectfto said aperture so as to be xedly clamped upon each side of said support, a pair of oppositely-disposed clamping members having,r an annular bearing surface of less diameter than said ball mounted in frictional engagement upon opposite sides thereof, and a lamp-supporting member extending through said hollow ball and the aperture in said support and mounted on said clamping members so as to be frictionally held in adjusted position with respect to said support.

10.l A mountingfor adjustably supporting a lamp upon an apertured support, including a hollow stationary ball split into two sections and coaxiaily mounted with respect b o said aperture so as to be iixedly clamped upon each side of said support, a. pair of oppositely-disposed clamping members having an annular bearing surface of less diameter than said ball mounted in frictonal engagement upon opposite sides thereof, a. lampsupporting member extending through said hollow hall and the aperture in said support and mounted 'on said clamping members so as to befrictionally held in adjusted position with respect to said support, and yielding means for normally maintaining said clamping members in frietional en- ,sagement with the surface of said ball.

11. A lamp mounting for adjustably supporting a lamp upon an apertured support including af hollow stationary bail coaxiallv mounted with respect to sind aperture, said ballbeing formed in two substantially hemispherical sections, one of said sections being provided with a threaded collar ada ted to extend through said aperture u on w iicll the other section may be screwed or clamp' ing said sections against the opposite sides ofrgid sup wrt, clamping members having an annular ating surface of less diameter than said ball, and a longitudinally-extending lamp-supporting .member aaptetl to extend through said ball and collar and be supported in adjusted position by said clamp lng members.

12. A lamp mounting for adjustably suprting a lamp upon an apertured support including a hollow stationnrv bali coaxially mounted with respect to sai aperture, said ball being formed in two substantially hemispherical sections, one of seid sections being provided with a threaded collar adapted to extend through said aperture upon which the other section may be screwed for elemp-V Y ing said sections against the opposite sides of Vseid sup iort. clamping members iiaving'- an annular earng surface of less diameter than said ball, a longitudinally-extending lamp-supporting member adapted to extend through said bali and collar and be .support ed in adjusted position by said clamping members. and a lamp easing; et'eezitricslly .f

HARRY C. FOSTER. 

